Cathy Randall's life anchored by faith, family, friends

Published: Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at 11:37 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at 11:37 a.m.

The list of Cathy Randall's accomplishments and activities would put even the most dedicated movers and shakers to shame. Professionally, she's held key positions at the University of Alabama and is chairman of the board of Pettus Randall Holdings LLC.

She's served in ways ranging from tornado relief efforts to the directorship of the American Legion's Alabama Girls State. She's won prestigious honors, such as UA's Living Legend award in 2007 and Tuscaloosa's Lifetime Achievement Award for Women of Distinction in 2005.

With her husband, the late H. Pettus Randall III, she raised three children, all of whom are making their own marks in the world — and who, though they're scattered around the country, call their mother almost every day. But Randall has no trouble narrowing down her priorities. Faith comes first, followed by family, friends and a dedication to serving others.

“The most important part of who I am is my faith,” she said.

Dr. Robert Witt, chancellor of the University of Alabama System, first met Randall shortly after he became UA's president in 2003. “Since coming to Alabama, I've met no one with a stronger faith than Cathy,” Witt said. “Her faith is not something she takes out of the closet on Sunday morning and puts back in on Sunday night.”

Randall's faith has anchored her busy life, seen her through sadness and inspired her to find time to serve.

TUSCALOOSA TIES

A Birmingham native, Randall bonded with Tuscaloosa early on.

“I came to Tuscaloosa as a freshman at the university, met Mr. Wonderful and never left,” she said. Pettus Randall was a second-year law student and she was a sophomore when they connected.

“I was the chairman of the youth campaign for Albert Brewer, who was running for governor,” Randall said. “I was asked to get Pettus Randall involved.

“A year later, we were married.”

Her husband's well-known family, who owned Randall Publishing, had deep roots in Tuscaloosa.

“When I married and made Tuscaloosa my home, I had the opportunity to have a career at the University of Alabama,” Randall said.

A history major as an undergraduate, Randall earned two Ph.D. degrees from UA. She was director of all University Honors Programs and is now director emerita of UA's Computer Based Honors Program.

In addition to her work at the university, Randall quickly became involved in civic and charitable causes. She's been a leader on the local level, starting with her church, Christ Episcopal, which she calls a “wonderful faith community.”

“I loved being a volunteer chaplain at a tornado shelter,” she said of her efforts after Tuscaloosa's April 27, 2011, tornado. “And I love helping with my church's Lazarus Project, which helps the needy with utility bills.”

She was inducted into and now chairs the Alabama Academy of Honor, which includes the 100 most outstanding living Alabamians. She's also been national Mortar Board president and headed the Alabama Women's Hall of Fame board of directors.

After Randall and Harper Lee, Pulitzer Prizewinning author of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” were both named among UA's top 31 women graduates of the century, the two became fast friends.

“Cathy Randall is super intelligent,” Lee said. “She is one of the most kind, caring people I know. She is one of my dearest friends, and I love her to death.”

FAMILY MATTERS

Despite Randall's crowded schedule, her family had her full devotion. She and her husband decided early on that their children would never lack for attention.

“I can remember it as if it were yesterday,” she said. “We were young parents, and he said, ‘You know, Cathy, no matter how much success we achieve, we can't enjoy our success if we don't do everything we can to help our children achieve happiness.'

“Our number one focus at all times was our children.”

With a smile, Randall said daughter Jaynie Rogers Randall Lilley currently has an edge over her younger sister and brother. “She's the favorite child right now because in January she gave me my first granddaughter, Mary Win,” Randall said.

Jaynie Rogers, married to Stephen Lilley, recently finished clerking for Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and is now with the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel in Washington, D.C., Randall said.

Daughter Kate Randall Danella lives in Los Angeles with husband Nick. She was Girls Nation president, following in the footsteps of her mother, the organization's first president from Alabama, and her father, the first Boys Nation president from Alabama.

Son Pettus Randall IV, who was student body president at Princeton University, manages private real estate and venture capital investments.

Together, the children have attended some of the world's most prestigious universities: Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Yale, Cambridge and Oxford. All have MBAs, and Jaynie Rogers also has a law degree. “They've worked so hard, and they're all people of character and integrity,” Randall said.

Those are paramount qualities to a mother like Randall who has made her faith a focus. Her concept of faith, however, was tested in January 2002 when her husband was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. During those dark days, Randall happened to see a copy of the Alabama Episcopalian magazine. A quote from an article by Bishop Marc Andrus caught her eye:

“By being good, we are allowed to live the most deeply satisfying of lives because it is a life closest to the life of God, not a life, you understand, without pain, but a life filled with joy.”

At first, Randall was confused by that theory. “I read it and thought, it's not possible to have pain and joy, because isn't pain the absence of joy?” she said. “At that time, I knew the greatest pain – losing the person who meant more to me than any other person. “But I learned that faith works in practical ways and that it is possible to find joy, even in the Valley of the Shadow of Death. You want everyone you know to know that joy, too.” Randall has no intentions of slowing down.

She's already looking forward to January, when she'll take on another new job as chairman of the American Village board of directors.

Finding time to serve has never been an insurmountable issue for her, she said, and shouldn't be for others.

“When we say we don't need to pray, that's when we need to pray twice,” Randall said. “In the same way, when we say we don't have time for community service, that's when we need to do more.

“We serve not just for those who need help but because we need to help.”

<p>The list of Cathy Randall's accomplishments and activities would put even the most dedicated movers and shakers to shame. Professionally, she's held key positions at the University of Alabama and is chairman of the board of Pettus Randall Holdings LLC.</p><p>She's served in ways ranging from tornado relief efforts to the directorship of the American Legion's Alabama Girls State. She's won prestigious honors, such as UA's Living Legend award in 2007 and Tuscaloosa's Lifetime Achievement Award for Women of Distinction in 2005.</p><p>With her husband, the late H. Pettus Randall III, she raised three children, all of whom are making their own marks in the world — and who, though they're scattered around the country, call their mother almost every day. But Randall has no trouble narrowing down her priorities. Faith comes first, followed by family, friends and a dedication to serving others. </p><p>“The most important part of who I am is my faith,” she said.</p><p>Dr. Robert Witt, chancellor of the University of Alabama System, first met Randall shortly after he became UA's president in 2003. “Since coming to Alabama, I've met no one with a stronger faith than Cathy,” Witt said. “Her faith is not something she takes out of the closet on Sunday morning and puts back in on Sunday night.” </p><p>Randall's faith has anchored her busy life, seen her through sadness and inspired her to find time to serve.</p><p><b>TUSCALOOSA TIES</b></p><p>A Birmingham native, Randall bonded with Tuscaloosa early on.</p><p>“I came to Tuscaloosa as a freshman at the university, met Mr. Wonderful and never left,” she said. Pettus Randall was a second-year law student and she was a sophomore when they connected.</p><p>“I was the chairman of the youth campaign for Albert Brewer, who was running for governor,” Randall said. “I was asked to get Pettus Randall involved.</p><p>“A year later, we were married.” </p><p>Her husband's well-known family, who owned Randall Publishing, had deep roots in Tuscaloosa.</p><p>“When I married and made Tuscaloosa my home, I had the opportunity to have a career at the University of Alabama,” Randall said. </p><p>A history major as an undergraduate, Randall earned two Ph.D. degrees from UA. She was director of all University Honors Programs and is now director emerita of UA's Computer Based Honors Program.</p><p>In addition to her work at the university, Randall quickly became involved in civic and charitable causes. She's been a leader on the local level, starting with her church, Christ Episcopal, which she calls a “wonderful faith community.”</p><p>“I loved being a volunteer chaplain at a tornado shelter,” she said of her efforts after Tuscaloosa's April 27, 2011, tornado. “And I love helping with my church's Lazarus Project, which helps the needy with utility bills.” </p><p>She was inducted into and now chairs the Alabama Academy of Honor, which includes the 100 most outstanding living Alabamians. She's also been national Mortar Board president and headed the Alabama Women's Hall of Fame board of directors.</p><p>After Randall and Harper Lee, Pulitzer Prizewinning author of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” were both named among UA's top 31 women graduates of the century, the two became fast friends.</p><p>“Cathy Randall is super intelligent,” Lee said. “She is one of the most kind, caring people I know. She is one of my dearest friends, and I love her to death.”</p><p><b>FAMILY MATTERS</b></p><p>Despite Randall's crowded schedule, her family had her full devotion. She and her husband decided early on that their children would never lack for attention.</p><p>“I can remember it as if it were yesterday,” she said. “We were young parents, and he said, 'You know, Cathy, no matter how much success we achieve, we can't enjoy our success if we don't do everything we can to help our children achieve happiness.'</p><p>“Our number one focus at all times was our children.”</p><p>With a smile, Randall said daughter Jaynie Rogers Randall Lilley currently has an edge over her younger sister and brother. “She's the favorite child right now because in January she gave me my first granddaughter, Mary Win,” Randall said.</p><p>Jaynie Rogers, married to Stephen Lilley, recently finished clerking for Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and is now with the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel in Washington, D.C., Randall said.</p><p>Daughter Kate Randall Danella lives in Los Angeles with husband Nick. She was Girls Nation president, following in the footsteps of her mother, the organization's first president from Alabama, and her father, the first Boys Nation president from Alabama.</p><p>Son Pettus Randall IV, who was student body president at Princeton University, manages private real estate and venture capital investments.</p><p>Together, the children have attended some of the world's most prestigious universities: Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Yale, Cambridge and Oxford. All have MBAs, and Jaynie Rogers also has a law degree. “They've worked so hard, and they're all people of character and integrity,” Randall said.</p><p>Those are paramount qualities to a mother like Randall who has made her faith a focus. Her concept of faith, however, was tested in January 2002 when her husband was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. During those dark days, Randall happened to see a copy of the Alabama Episcopalian magazine. A quote from an article by Bishop Marc Andrus caught her eye:</p><p>“By being good, we are allowed to live the most deeply satisfying of lives because it is a life closest to the life of God, not a life, you understand, without pain, but a life filled with joy.”</p><p>At first, Randall was confused by that theory. “I read it and thought, it's not possible to have pain and joy, because isn't pain the absence of joy?” she said. “At that time, I knew the greatest pain – losing the person who meant more to me than any other person. “But I learned that faith works in practical ways and that it is possible to find joy, even in the Valley of the Shadow of Death. You want everyone you know to know that joy, too.” Randall has no intentions of slowing down.</p><p>She's already looking forward to January, when she'll take on another new job as chairman of the American Village board of directors. </p><p>Finding time to serve has never been an insurmountable issue for her, she said, and shouldn't be for others.</p><p>“When we say we don't need to pray, that's when we need to pray twice,” Randall said. “In the same way, when we say we don't have time for community service, that's when we need to do more. </p><p>“We serve not just for those who need help but because we need to help.”</p>